Going to a puppy class without all vaccinations

I found this training place about 25 minutes from us that offers socialization classes for puppies. I assume they let the pups play, plus they give some info on housebreaking, biting, and other puppy stuff. Here is the info: Course Descriptions

They do not have to be fully vaccinated to attend. I know Tucker has had like two of his parvo/distemper shots but not all of them. He goes to the vet next week, I don't know what he's getting at that time. Do you think it is too dangerous for not fuly vaccinated pup to attend something like this? I don't know what we would do if he got parvo but I also don't think he's getting enough socialization, I just don't know where to bring him.

I don't know if my parents wil actually do it, i haven't shown them yet and I won't be here, but I really like the idea of a socialization class. I looked up the head trainer and he seems really good, positive methods and all that jazz which is something I worried about. So I'm not afraid that my parents will get some terrible advice.

What do you think?

I can't speak for anyone else, but I have brought my dogs to worst environments (ie: dog shows) without their second set of vaccines. At around 8/9 weeks I vax for D+P, and don't do another round until 14-16 weeks (depends), then again at a yr.

Blush was vax'ed at 8wks on a Thur, the next Monday she went on the road to dog shows, different environments (traveling to the dog show, we would have to stop to let her go out). I wasn't stupid about it, she wasn't prancing around throught the building or anything, but I imagine she was exposed to much worst then what your parent's puppy will be exposed to at the facility.

It's all a toss up, and you have to decide if it's worth the risk, or not. I have never had a puppy get sick, I work from day 1 to try and build strong immune systems which, IMO, helps a lot.

I can't comment on the vacc. thing--but seriously believe a puppy class can make a big difference in a young dogs socialization, as well as teaching the owners how to manage some basic stuff (even if they THINK they know how to do it!). I would also want to know the sizes of the other puppies enrolled--to be sure Tucker didn't get overwhelmed by great danes and saints--LOL!

Agreed.

Sometimes you have to weigh the pro's and cons, mental socialization VS physical (illness). I am NOT saying put your dog in harms way, but so many dogs develop issues who were under socialized, or worst, were PTS because lack of socialization. . . that I think sometimes it's not the best idea to wait until the puppy is older, especially one who wasn't raised in the best of situations (I don't know the full backstory to your puppy).

With Bailey, I made the decision that the socialization aspect of puppy classes outweighed the potential risks. I did find a place that required proof of the first (two?) round(s) of vaccines, and they were also very careful about cleaning before and after classes.

That said, there was a dog in the class who ended up with lepto and died. It wasn't spread to the other puppies, but it is something to be aware of. (Not that the lepto vaccine does much of anything anyway.)

Honestly, we lived in the middle of the city. There was almost no way that I was going to be able to "protect" him from everything, plus socialization for him was really, really important (he could not care less about loud noises or strange things because he was exposed to a lot from day one). While I would do puppy classes again, there are other things related to vaccines and immune system support that I will do differently next time.

Bailey was my first dog (we'd had family dogs before, but my family is pretty dog clueless ), and I found it really helpful for me, too, because they also talked about all of the puppy basics (e.g., bite inhibition). It doesn't sound like that's something you would need, but it may be helpful for your parents?

Oh, and Bailey LOVED puppy class. He was in love with other dogs when he was a puppy, so puppy socialization was the best.thing.ever to him.

I am mostly concerned because Tucker is a timid pup and I have the feeling that if he is not socialized well he'll turn fear aggressive, especially since he likes using his mouth to try and get his way. He met my neighbors golden yesterday (she was loose in my yard) and did well, he was nervous at first but the dog ignored him pretty much completely, she was interested in me. So he quickly decided he likes her and started trying to jump on her face which I stopped because I don't know that she'd be okay with that. So he's not too bad but the more the merrier. Plus I think it'd be nice if he could find a dog that would actually PLAY with him.


The shelter gave him a lepto and kennel cough vaccine (but are vet said it was the old lepto vaccine so fairly useless). I mostly worry about parvo because I don't know if we could afford to save him (if he even could be saved) if he did get it. I don't know ANYone around here whose dog has gotten parvo but I'm sure it's around.

Traveler didn't have all his shots when we started puppy class and even less shots than when I took him to our dog parks (Which is a Forest Preserve), pet stores etc.

My club for puppy class wanted the date of the most recent set of exams, a fecal and rabies if they were old enough.

I am pretty laxadazy about not going places because he wasn't fully vaccinated, but parvo isn't very big here. The only place I avoided was the local reptile/animal expo they hold bi monthly. The reptile breeders are reputable for the most part but too many people bring in their dogs, rabbits , chickens etc. that I didn't feel comfortable exposing him to that.

i'm such a poor and reckless dog owner, I don't give them any and take them everywhere

I waited till Quinn had her second set of vacc's and the vet gave me the okay to take her everywhere. The puppy class she goes to allowed puppies from 8 weeks but she didn't go till she was 12 weeks.

Honestly, the classes have been amazing for her, I wouldn't raise another puppy without attending them. Just on a socialisation point of view.

We've been going twice a week, the first lesson she was terrified, first she ran off and hid behind a bin, wouldn't talk to another dog. I spent the entire time squatted down so she could hide under me and if we were all seated she was under my chair.
Everytime she got a little more outgoing and last week she actually played with the other pups. She's so timid with new things its helped her so much. I wouldn't have been able to get her nearly this amount of socialisation without the classes.

In mine you can enrol from 8-16 weeks. And your puppy stays on till its too boistrous for the younger pups. She's a really good instructor, she watches all the dogs and if some of them arn't handling it well she'll put the more confident ones on lead and just let the shy pups off for a bit. There is even a 6 month old GSD that comes along sometimes, but his manners are fantastic.

as long as he stays up to date with his vaccines and as long as they're checking to make sure other pups are up to date, i wouldn't worry too much about it. be aware, of course, but i think the sooner you can get a shy pup into a good puppy class, the better for the pup.

I strongly think that the risk of lack of socialization definately outweighs the risk of disease. By the time the puppy gets all of his shots, the socialization window will probably be closed and then socialization is much harder.